Tape applicator

ABSTRACT

A tape applicator for holding and applying adhesive tape and for applying random lengths of tape to a receiving surface and for severing the roll of tape from the tape applied. The dispenser has a pressure actuated guard which is moved against a spring into the dispenser upon engaging the guard with the surface to receive the tape with sufficient force to move the guard. This movement of the guard retracts the knife and positions a tape applying roller to apply the free end of the tape supply to the receiving surface. After the predetermined length of tape has been applied pressure on the dispenser is relieved and the guard and knife return to their normal positions with the knife moving across the path of the tape between the applying member and the applied tape to sever the same as the dispenser was withdrawn.

United States Patent 191 Pearson 1 Nov. 26, 1974 TAPE APPLICATOR [75]Inventor: Walter C. Pearson, St. Paul, Minn.

[73] Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul,

Primary Examiner-Charles E. Van Horn Assistant ExaminerM. G. WityshynAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Alexander, Sell, Steldt & DeLaHunt [57]ABSTRACT A tape applicator for holding and applying adhesive tape andfor applying random lengths of tape to a receiving surface and forsevering the roll of tape from the tape applied.

The dispenser has a pressure actuated guard which is moved against aspring into the dispenser upon engaging the guard with the surface toreceive the tape with sufficient force to move the guard. This movementof the guard retracts the knife and positions a tape applying roller toapply the free end of the tape supply to the receiving surface. Afterthe predetermined length of tape has been applied pressure on thedispenser is relieved and the guard and knife return to their normalpositions with the knife moving across the path of the tape between theapplying member and the applied tape to sever the same as the dispenserwas withdrawn.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures TAPE APPLICATOR BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates'to a new andimproved tape applicator for applying random lengths of pressuresensitive adhesive tape onto a surface without requiring the operator tograsp the free end of a length of tape and start the applying cycle. Inone aspect this invention relates to a new hand held dispenser adaptedfor use with tapes having very aggressive adhesives such that it is notnecessary for the operator to handle the tape during repeatedapplications.

2. Description of the Prior Art The tape dispenser art is replete withvarious tape dispenser constructions for applying tape, particularlywhen the acceptance of pressure sensitive adhesive tapes for many usesis increasing. Many of these prior dispensing devices however haverequired operator manipulation to effectively apply the free end of thetape without having to seek out the end of the tape after the precedingapplication. Also. it has been necessary to manipulate some mechanismduring or after application of the tape such that the tape will besevered or that the free end would be retained in position for thesubsequent application. Examples of applicators of the type mentionedare U.S. Pat. No. 3,523,053, issued Aug. 4, 1970 to Zbinden et al. andU.S. Pat. No. 3,539,418, issued Nov. 10, 1970 to Combs. The shortcomingsof these dispensers like other dispensers of the prior art is that someoperator manipulation is necessary other than the normal positioning,pressing and linear movement, and should this manipulation not becarried out as prescribed, premature cutting or contact of the adhesiveside of the tape with the dispensing elements occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The dispenser of the present invention providesfor the facile application of random lengths oftape to a receptorsurface. The tape supply roll is supported within a shell or frameadapted to fit easily in the hand. A guard member projects from thelower tape edge of the dispenser to avoid contact with the free end ofthe tape or with the cutting blade. When applying tape the operatorpositions the dispenser over the receiving surface and depresses thedispenser causing the free end of the tape to adhere to the receivingsurface. This is accomplished by a guard member pivoting into thedispenser to expose the tape applying and buffing surface.Simultaneously the knife is retracted from its position defined bysuitable guide wall members adjacent the buffing surface. Uponapplication of the desired length of tape the dispenser is withdrawn andthe guard is returned under the bias of a spring to its normal positionsimultaneously returning the knife to the severing position. Movement ofthe dispenser severs the supply roll from the applied length of tape.The movable guard member which retracts the knife causes thesimultaneous rotational movement of the cylindrical applying memberhaving the buffing surface for projecting the free end of the tapetoward the receiving surface and moving the buffing surface toward saidreceiving surface to assure the application of the free end ofthe tapethereto. A finger aids to hold the tape end at the buffing surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The various features and advantages of thepresent invention will be further described in the following detaileddescription which refers to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tape dispenser in an open positionshowing the interior thereof;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the dispenser;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the dis penser with the partsthereof in operative applying position;

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;and

Hg. 5 is a perspective view of the applying member and knife.

' DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to thedrawings there is shown in FIG. 1 a tape applying dispenser generallydesignated by the reference numeral 10 comprising a support plate 11from which extends an arcuate wall member 12 forming a supporting hubfor a tape core 13 upon which is wound convolutely a supply of tape 14in a roll 15. Also extending from the plate 11 on axes parallel to thatof the arcuate member 12 is a pin 16 for supporting a tape applyingmember, a pin 18 to which a biasing means is secured and a pivot pin 19pivotally supporting a guard member as will hereinafter be described.Also projecting from the plate 11 is a flange 20 which aids in securinga cover 21 over the tape roll for aesthetic purposes and to provide aneasy dispenser to be hand held by the user.

The cover 21 comprises a support wall 22 from which extends a flange 23.The flange 23 is positioned about the periphery of the wall 22 exceptalong the bottom edge thereof to define an openlower portion.Protrusions are formed on the inside of the wall 22 aligned with the huband shafts or pins 16 and 19 so the cover aids to support the tape rolland operating members. Secured to the cover on the flange 23 is afibrous pad 24 which may be used to buff the applied severed length oftape.

A tape applying assembly is supported within the dispenser for applyingthe tape 14 to a receptor surface 25. This assembly comprises a movablemember 26 supported on the shaft 16 for movement with respect to theshaft. The member 16 isgenerally cylindrical and has secured thereto anarm 27 supporting a resilient finger 29 which extends from the arm 27 toa position to engage the surface of the applying member 26 in advance ofits lowermost applying and buffing surface 28. The finger 29 presses thetape 14 against the applying member 26 and is tapered from the endthereof connected to the arm 27 to terminate substantially at a pointwhich engages the adhesive surface of the tape. The applying member 26and the finger 29 are formed of a polymeric material having a lubricatedfeel to the touch, for example, an acetal resin such as sold under thetradename Delrin by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. of Wilmington, DeL,so as to restrict their affinity for the adhesive. The applying member26 has shoulders formed adjacent the axially opposite edges of thebuffing surface 28 of the same to permit movement of a guard member 30into close proximity thereto. A

flattened tape guiding surface may be positioned near the finger 29.

The guard member 30 is pivotally supported at one end on the pin 19 andhas a generally channel shape with a smooth bottom surface 31 from whichextends vertically a pin 32 receiving one end of a spring 33 which isalso connected to the pin 18 in such a manner as to urge the guardmember 30 away from the pin 18 and outwardly through the opening in thedispenser to a normal position. An opposite end 34 of the guard member30 is bent from the surface 31 and is pivotally connected to one end ofablade member 35. The blade member 35 is supported by guide means in theform of a slot 36 formed on a chord and extending through theapplicating member 26 on the side of the axis thereof opposite the pivotpin 19. The guide means directs the blade 35 to a position closelyadjacent to the applying and buffing surface 28 of the applying assembly26. An opening 38 in the surface 31 exposes the buffing surface 28 tothe receiving surface.

It will be noticed in comparing figures of the drawing that the operatorplaces the dispenser on the receiving surface and by applying force ontothe cover 21 and the plate 10, the guard member is moved from an outernormal protective position to an operating position closely adjacent theapplying member 26. As the guard member 30 is so moved to the operatingposition by the force of the receiving surface thereagainst, the end 34of the guard 30 withdraws the blade from a position extending fromadjacent the buffing surface 28 into the applying assembly such that thetape can be ap plied without interference from said blade. The dispenseris illustrated in the applying position in FIG. 3. Upon interruption ofthe application of the tape 14, pressure is removed from the dispenser11 causing the spring 33 to move the guard 30 outwardly of the openingin the dispenser and the knife 35 to be guided by the slot 36 toward andinto the path of the tape between the supply roll and the receptorsurface 25. The knife 35 preferably has sharpened teeth extendingtherefrom which will pierce the tape causing the same to be severed uponcontinued movement of the dispenser 11 in relationship to the receivingsurface. When the guard member 30 reaches its normal position under theforce of spring 33, the applying member 26 tends to retract the free endof the tape roll. The finger 29 holds the tape on the applying memberand guard member 30 protects the free end from contact with anothersurface until such is intended. The spring 33 moves the guard member toa predetermined position defined by a stop 39 on the guard member 30which contacts the applying member 26.

Having thus described the present invention with reference to apreferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that modifications can bemade without departing from this invention as claimed in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dispenser for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising incombination an applying and buffing member having a buffing surface,

a blade movable to and out of a severing position relative to saidbuffing surface,

guide means for positioning the blade adjacent the buffing surface,

a guard member movable relative to said buffing surface to an operativeposition adjacent to said buffing surface to expose said buffing surfaceto an adjacent tape receiving surface from a normal position spaced fromsaid buffing surface when said buffing surface is spaced from a saidreceiving surface, and

means connecting said blade to said guard member to move said knife insaid guide means from said severing position when said guard member ismoved to said operative position adjacent said buffing surface and tosaid severing position when said guard member is returned to said normalposition.

2. in a dispenser according to claim 1 comprising spring means forbiasing said guard member to said normal position.

3. In a dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said buffing member ismovable on an axis and said guide means is defined by a slot in saidbuffing member extending along a chord intersecting said buffing membersurface adjacent said buffing surface, and said guard member is pivotedon an axis parallel to the axis of said buffing member and on the sideof said axis of said buffing member opposite said slot.

4. in a dispenser according to claim 2 wherein said guard member ismovable to said operative position when engaged by a receiving surfaceapplying a force thereto opposite the bias of said spring means, andwherein said buffing member is movably mounted on an axis for movementabout said axis upon said guard member being moved to said operativeposition to place said buffing surface in position adjacent a tapereceiving surface.

1. In a dispenser for pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising incombination an applying and buffing member having a buffing surface, ablade movable to and out of a severing position relative to said buffingsurface, guide means for positioning the blade adjacent the buffingsurface, a guard member movable relative to said buffing surface to anoperative position adjacent to said buffing surface to expose saidbuffing surface to an adjacent tape receiving surface from a normalposition spaced from said buffing surface when said buffing surface isspaced from a said receiving surface, and means connecting said blade tosaid guard member to move said knife in said guide means from saidsevering position when said guard member is moved to said operativeposition adjacent said buffing surface and to said severing positionwhen said guard member is returned to said normal position.
 2. In adispenser according to claim 1 comprising spring means for biasing saidguard member to said normal position.
 3. In a dispenser according toclaim 1 wherein said buffing member is movable on an axis and said guidemeans is defined by a slot in said buffing member eXtending along achord intersecting said buffing member surface adjacent said buffingsurface, and said guard member is pivoted on an axis parallel to theaxis of said buffing member and on the side of said axis of said buffingmember opposite said slot.
 4. In a dispenser according to claim 2wherein said guard member is movable to said operative position whenengaged by a receiving surface applying a force thereto opposite thebias of said spring means, and wherein said buffing member is movablymounted on an axis for movement about said axis upon said guard memberbeing moved to said operative position to place said buffing surface inposition adjacent a tape receiving surface.